Carton with dispenser

ABSTRACT

A package comprises an article group formed of cylindrical articles disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel fashion, and a carton disposed around the group. The carton comprises a top wall, opposed side walls, an end wall and an article dispenser. The side walls are disposed alongside the ends of the articles while the end wall is disposed adjacent to the side wall of an endmost article. The dispenser includes a portion of the carton formed from and detachably connected to the top, side and end walls. The portion is connected to the end wall along a weakened line extending between the side walls so that the weakened line defines an upper edge of a stopper wall formed from said end wall when the portion is substantially detached from the carton. The upper edge extends substantially along the cylindrical axis of the endmost article.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional ApplicationNo. 60/255,543 filed Dec. 12, 2000.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to cartons, and more particularly, to acarton for multiple articles having a dispenser for constrained removalof individual articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Cartons for encasing multiple articles are useful for enablingconsumers to obtain and transport a desired quantity of individualarticles such as soft drinks or other beverages. When such amultiple-pack of articles is obtained, a consumer frequently desires toremove one article from the carton at a time. Thus, it can beappreciated that it would be desirable to have a carton with a dispenserthat facilitates the removal of a single article from the carton at atime.

[0004] When the articles contained in the carton are cylindrical, andare disposed in the carton upon their sides, it is important that thearticles be constrained such that the remaining articles do not roll outof the dispenser when one is removed. It is also important that thedispenser provide a condition where the articles are easily accessed. Itis further often desirable when removing individual articles from acarton to be able to determine how many articles remain in the carton.Thus, it can be further appreciated that it would be desirable to have acarton with a dispenser that constrains remaining articles so that theydo not undesirably roll from or otherwise exit the carton when onearticle is removed. It can also be appreciated that it would bedesirable to have a carton with a dispenser that facilitates access tothe articles. It can be further appreciated that it would be desirableto be able to determine how many articles remain in a carton from whichindividual articles are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A carton of the invention has a dispenser for articles which canbe substantially detached or torn away from the upper corner of thecarton to expose an endmost article for removal.

[0006] According to the invention in one aspect, a carton is provided tocomprise a plurality of walls defining an upper corner of the carton andan article dispenser for dispensing articles from the carton. Thedispenser includes a displaceable portion of the carton formed from theupper corner and detachably connected to the walls to be substantiallydetached or torn away from the carton to define an opening for exposingan endmost article for removal. The dispenser comprises a constrainingtab for inhibiting the endmost article from undesirably exiting thecarton. The constraining tab extends upwardly to an elevation higherthan the lowest point along the periphery of the opening. Theconstraining tab is particularly of utility to inhibit cylindricalarticles lying on their sides from undesirably rolling out from thecarton.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment, the displaceable portion ofthe carton is hingedly attached to the carton so as to provide a troughfor receiving an article that exits the carton.

[0008] According to another preferred embodiment, the carton furthercomprises hand-hole punch-through means for grasping the displaceableportion. The punch-through means may be defined by weakened lines formedin one of the walls. The weakened lines may include a severance line anda fold line which together form a grasping panel that is foldablyconnected to the displaceable portion along the fold line.

[0009] According to a further preferred embodiment, the walls includes atop wall, opposed side walls connected to the side edges of the top walland an end wall interconnecting the side walls, and the constraining tabis formed from the end wall. The constraining tab may be defined by aninverted U-shaped weakened line formed in the end wall. The lowest pointalong the periphery may be located adjacent to one or each of theopposite ends of the inverted U-shaped weakened line. The end wall mayinclude a pair of overlapped side end flaps connected respectively tothe side walls whereas the constraining tab may be formed from the sideend flaps.

[0010] In the immediately above embodiment, the carton may furthercomprise a bottom wall connecting between the lower edges of the sidewalls. The end wall may comprise a bottom end flap connected to an endedge of the bottom wall and a pair of side end flaps connectedrespectively to adjacent end edges of the side walls. The lowest pointmay be located along a weakened line formed in the side end flaps whilethe constraining tab may be formed from part of the bottom end flapextending upwardly beyond the weakened line.

[0011] According to the invention in another aspect, a package isprovided to comprise an article group formed of at least one tier ofcylindrical articles disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallelfashion, and a carton disposed around the group of articles. The cartoncomprises a top wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to the topwall, an end wall interconnecting the side walls, and an articledispenser for dispensing the articles from the carton. The side wallsare disposed alongside the ends of the articles of the group whereas theend wall is disposed adjacent to the side wall of an endmost article ofthe group. The dispenser includes a displaceable portion of the cartonformed from and detachably connected to the top, side and end walls tobe substantially detached from the carton to define an opening forexposing the endmost article for removal. The displaceable portion isconnected to said side walls along tear lines that are disposedrespectively across the opposite ends of the endmost article so that theopposite ends of the endmost article are partially exposed to facilitateaccess to themselves by a user when the displaceable portion issubstantially detached from the carton.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the lines are disposed in the sidewalls and extend between the top wall and the end wall. The tear linesmay be curved concavely toward the end wall to expose greater areas ofthe opposite ends of the endmost article when the displaceable portionis detached.

[0013] In another preferred embodiment, the tear lines are disposed inthe side walls and extend downwardly from the top wall to the end wall.A lowest point along each of the tear lines may be spaced above thelower edge of the respective side wall at a distance no more than a halfof the diameter of the endmost article. The dispenser may comprise aconstraining tab for inhibiting the endmost article from undesirablyexiting the carton. The constraining tab may be formed from the end walland extend upwardly to an elevation higher than the lowest point alongeach tear line.

[0014] In a further preferred embodiment, the article group comprisestwo or more vertically arranged tiers of cylindrical articles. Thearticles in each tier may be disposed on their sides in a side-by-sideparallel fashion, and the tear lines may be disposed across the oppositeends of an endmost article of the lowermost tier.

[0015] According to the invention in a further aspect, a package isprovided to comprise an article group formed of at least one tier ofcylindrical articles disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallelfashion, and a carton disposed around the group of articles. The cartoncomprises a top wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to the topwall, an end wall interconnecting the side walls, and an articledispenser for dispensing the articles from the carton. The side wallsare disposed alongside the ends of the articles of the group while theend wall is disposed adjacent to the side wall of an endmost article ofthe group. The dispenser includes a displaceable portion of the cartonformed from and detachably connected to the top, side and end walls tobe substantially detached from the carton to define an opening forexposing the endmost article for removal. The displaceable portion isconnected to the end wall along a weakened line extending between theside walls so that the weakened line defines the upper edge of a stopperwall formed from the end wall when the displaceable portion issubstantially detached from the carton. The upper edge extendssubstantially along the cylindrical axis of the endmost article so thatthe stopper wall inhibits the endmost article from undesirably exitingthe carton.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the carton further comprises a bottomwall connecting between the lower edges of the side walls, and the upperedge of the stopper wall is spaced above the bottom wall at a distanceless than the diameter of the endmost article.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment, the dispenser comprises aconstraining tab for inhibiting the endmost article from undesirablyexiting the carton. Such a constraining tab may extend upwardly from thestopper wall. The weakened line may have an inverted “U” configurationso that the weakened line defines the constraining tab that is formedfrom the end wall.

[0018] In the immediately above embodiment, the carton may furthercomprise a bottom wall connecting between the lower edges of the sidewalls. The constraining tab may have a highest point along the upperedge while the highest point may be spaced above the bottom wall at adistance greater than a half of the diameter of the endmost article andless than the diameter. Alternatively, the carton may further comprise abottom wall connecting between the lower edges of the side walls, andthe upper edge has a lowest point at one or each of the opposite ends ofthe weakened line. Such a lowest point may be spaced above the bottomwall at a distance no greater than a half of the diameter of the endmostarticle.

[0019] According to the invention in a still further aspect, a carton isprovided to comprise a plurality of walls defining an upper corner ofthe carton and an article dispenser for dispensing articles from thecarton. The dispenser includes a displaceable portion of the cartonformed from the upper corner of the carton and detachably connected tothe walls of the carton to be at least partially detached from thecarton to define an opening for exposing an endmost article in thecarton for removal. The displaceable portion is hingedly connected toone of the walls for downward pivotal movement to an opened position soas to provide when in the opened position a trough for receiving anarticle that exits the carton.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the carton walls includes a top wall,a pair of opposed side walls connected to the side edges of the top walland an end wall interconnecting the side walls. The displaceable portionmay be formed from the top, side and end walls and hinged to the endwall along a fold line disposed parallel to the top wall. The carton mayfurther comprise a bottom wall connecting between the lower edges of theside walls while the fold line is positioned closer to the bottom wallthan to the wall so that at least part of the displaceable portion maylie in the plane of the bottom wall when the displaceable portion isbrought into the opened position. This arrangement is of utility in thatthe trough provided by the displaceable portion can reach a supportsurface on which the carton is placed and thereby the trough may alsosit on the support surface to be capable of receiving and supporting anarticle.

[0021] In the immediately above embodiment, the part of the displaceableportion to be in the plane of the bottom wall may comprise the upperedge of the end wall that is connected to the top wall. The fold linemay extend entirely across the end wall. Alternatively, the fold linemay be a weakened fold line curved or bent to take an essentiallyinverted-U shape. Such a weakened fold line remains partially unbrokento serve as a line of joiner when the displaceable portion is in theopened position.

[0022] Other advantages and objects of the present invention will beapparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, andthe appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023]FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a carton having a dispenserin accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,

[0024]FIG. 2 is an isometric illustration of the carton of FIG. 1 withthe dispenser trough pivoted away from the upper portion of the endportion of the carton,

[0025]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank for forming the carton with thedispenser shown in FIG. 1,

[0026]FIG. 4 is an isometric illustration of a carton having a dispenserin accordance with a second embodiment of the invention,

[0027]FIG. 5 is an isometric illustration of the carton of FIG. 4 withthe dispenser trough pivoted down to the opened position, and

[0028]FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank for forming the carton shown inFIG. 4

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate a first embodiment of the presentinvention. Throughout these drawings, the same reference numerals areused to denote the same or like features of the invention.

[0030] For convenience of understanding, reference may be made to FIGS.1, 2 and 3 simultaneously. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a carton 10 having adispenser in accordance with the first embodiment. FIG. 3 illustratesthe blank 12 from which the carton of FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed. Cans “C”arranged in a 6×2 array are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as an aid inunderstanding the invention. More specifically, the cans “C” arearranged in a group consisting of two vertically disposed tiers eachincluding six cans. The cans “C” in each tier are disposed on theirsides in a side-by-side parallel fashion.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 3, the blank 12 include four primary panels forforming the carton walls, i.e., a first side wall panel 64, a top wallpanel 62, a second side wall panels 66 and a bottom wall panel 68foldably connected one to the next along fold lines 82, 84 and 86. Aglue flap 88 is foldably connected to the first side wall panel 64 alonga fold line 90. Reference numerals 72, 72 a, 74, 74 a, 76, 76 a, 78, 78a designate end flaps foldably connected the ends of the primary panels62, 64, 66, 68. The end flaps arranged along each of the upper and loweredges (as viewed in FIG. 3) of the blank 12 form a composite end wallsuch as shown at 70 in FIG. 1.

[0032] To form an erected carton from the blank 12, the first side wallpanel 64 is folded along the fold line 82 to lie flat on the top wallpanel 62. Glue is applied to the glue flap 88, and then the bottom wallpanel 68 is folded along the fold line 86 to lie flat on the second wallpanel 66. By this means, the bottom wall panel 68 is glued to the glueflap 88, and thereby a flat tubular carton is provided The flat tubularcarton is then expanded into an open-ended tubular form. After cans areloaded through one or both of the open ends of the carton, the end flaps72, 72 a, 74, 74 a, 76, 76 a, 78, 78 a are folded to form the respectiveend walls to thereby close the ends of the carton. To form the end wall70, the top and bottom end flaps 72 and 74 are folded to theirrespective vertical positions. Glue is applied to the outside faces ofthe end flaps 72 and 74, and then the side end flaps 76 and 78 arefolded in the described sequence onto the top and bottom end flaps 72and 74. This causes the side end flaps 76 and 78 to be glued to the topand bottom end flaps 72 and 74. In the closed position show in FIG. 1,the side end flaps 76 and 78 overlap each other and are secured togetheralso by means of glue. The other end wall (not shown) of the carton isformed in like manner by end flaps 72 a, 74 a, 76 a and 78 a.

[0033] An erected carton is shown in FIG. 1 wherein a trough 20 isintegrally formed at an end portion of the carton 10 to be displaceableto form a dispenser. A hand-hole punch-through means for grasping thetrough 20 is formed in the top wall 62 by a weakened line of severance22 and a weakened fold line 24. Together, these two lines 22 and 24 formthe hand-hole punch-through means and define an elliptical panel 26 onthe cusp of the trough 20 adjacent the remainder of the carton 10 thatcan be grasped to pull down the trough 20 and reveal the dispenser areaor opening 50. A weakened severance line or tear line 30 is formed ineach of the opposed side walls 64 and 66 and extends from the top wall62 to the composite end wall 70. In the preferred embodimentillustrated, the tear line lines 30 are of arcuate configuration. Theyare curved or arched concavely toward the end wall 70. The tear lines 30intersect a frangible or otherwise weakened fold line 32 of joiner thatis formed in the side end flaps 76 and 78 to extend between the sidewalls 64 and 66 entirely across the end wall 70.

[0034] Referring now particularly to FIG. 2, therein is illustrated themanner in which the trough 20 has been substantially removed from thecarton 10 at the upper corner region and remains hingedly attached tothe lower portion of the end wall 70 along the weakened fold line 32.With the trough 20 pivoted downward, the dispenser opening 50 isrevealed. Constraining tab members 40 and 42 formed from the bottom endflap 74 are visible through the dispenser opening 50.

[0035] The cans “C” become accessible through the opening 50 by at leastsubstantially detaching the trough 20 from the carton 10. Although thetrough 20 can be completely removed by detaching it from the cartonalong the weakened fold line 32 that forms its hinge, when it remainsattached, as shown, it serves as a handy mechanism for receiving anarticle (a can “C”), particularly when the dispenser is first opened.When the trough 20 is pivoted down to an opened position as shown inFIG. 2, the upper edge 21 of the end wall 70 is brought into contactwith a support surface on which the carton is placed. This allows thetrough 20 to be also supported by the support surface to be able toreceive and properly support a can.

[0036] When the trough 20 is in the opened position or completelydetached, the lower portion of the end wall 70 forms a stopper wall 80that extend all the way between the side walls 64 and 66 along thecylindrical axis X-X (see FIG. 2) of the end most can of the lower tieradjacent the stopper wall 80. The upper edge of the stopper wall 80 isdefined by the weakened fold line 32 that is spaced above the bottomwall 68 (see FIG. 3) at a distance less than the diameter of the cans“C”, and preferably no more than a half of the diameter of the cans “C”.The stopper wall 80 by itself is capable of inhibiting the cans on thelower tier from inadvertently exiting the carton before intendedremoval. However, an additional can stopper may be used. Such anadditional stopper is provided by the constraining tab members 40 and42. The respective upper or highest points on the tabs 40 and 42 may bedisposed above the bottom wall 68 at a distance greater than a half ofthe diameter of the cans and less than the diameter of the cans. Thus,the constraining tabs 40 and 42 are shown in FIG. 2 as projectingupwardly beyond the upper edge 32 of the stopper wall 80. The contentsof the carton are easily viewed through the dispenser opening 50.

[0037] Because each tear line 30 extends across the adjacent end of theendmost can “C” in the lower tier, the opposite ends of the endmost can“C” are partially exposed as shown in FIG. 2 so that a user can easilygrasp that can by the opposite ends. The curvature of the tear lines 30help to increase the exposed areas of the can ends. After the top,end-most can (the can “C” in the trough) is removed from the upper tier,the remaining cans C in the upper tier will nest in the spaces betweenthe cans of the lower tier. Nesting of cans in this manner is well knownin the art and is not illustrated. The invention serves as a usefuldispensing carton that can be placed upon a surface or within acompartment such as a refrigerator or pantry.

[0038] A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6,where like parts have been designated by the same reference numeral withthe prefix “1” and only the differences are discussed in any greaterdetail.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 5, cans “C” in this embodiment are arranged ina group consisting of two vertically disposed tiers each including fivecans. The cans in each tier are disposed on their sides in aside-by-side parallel fashion.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 6, the blank of the carton has a pair of bottomwall panels 168 a and 168 b that are secured together to form acomposite bottom wall when the blank is erected into a carton. The inneror upper bottom wall panel 168 a is foldably connected to the first sidewall panel 164 along a fold line 190 while the outer or lower bottomwall panel 168 b is foldably connected to the second side wall panel 166along a fold line 186. Each bottom wall panel is provided at itsopposite ends with end flaps 100 or 102. The end flaps 100 on the innerbottom wall panel 168 a are glued respectively to the end flaps 102 onthe outer bottom wall panel 168 to form full bottom end flaps similar tothe end flaps 74 and 74 a in the first embodiment.

[0041]FIG. 4 illustrates a carton 110 formed from the blank 112 of FIG.6. The tear lines 130 extend from the top wall 162 to their respectivelowest points 200 on the end edges 202 of the respective side walls 164and 166. The lowest point 200 is spaced above the composite bottom wallat a distance, preferably, no more than a half of the diameter of thecans “C” to provide a maximum exposed area of the respective can endwhen the trough 120 is detached from the carton 110.

[0042] As shown further in FIG. 4, the weakened fold line 132 is curved,or bent, to assume an inverted “U” shape, which defines a constrainingtab 204 along the upper straight portion of the weakened fold line 132.The lowest points on the weakened line 132 are located at its oppositeends 200 which are in registry with the lower ends of the tear lines130.

[0043] Therefore, the constraining tab 204 projects above the lowestpoints 200. The weakened line 132 is located above the composite bottomwall at a distance, preferably, greater than a half of the diameter ofthe cans “C” and less than the diameter of the cans “C”. Stateddifferently, the weakened fold line 132 is positioned considerablycloser to the bottom wall than to the top wall 162. As best shown inFIG. 5, the weakened fold line 132 partially breaks near its oppositeends when the trough 120 is brought to the opened position; however, thestraight portion of the line 132 remains unbroken to serve as a foldline.

[0044] Unlike the first embodiment, the tabs 140 and 142 (see FIG. 6) onthe end flaps 100 and 102 do not project upwardly beyond the weakenedline 132. However, they are disposed flat with the inside face of theconstraining tab 204 and thereby function to reinforce the constrainingtab 204.

[0045] Reference numeral 206 designate a half cut formed in theconstraining tab 204 and extending along the weakened fold line 132. Thehalf cut 206 may be used to facilitate removal of the trough 120 when itis desired to completely detach the trough 120 from the carton 110.Reference numerals 208, 210 and 212 designate fold lines formed in thetop wall 162 to define an yielding panel 124. The yielding panel 214 iseasily displaced downwardly when pressed downwardly. Therefore, theyielding panel 214 is useful to facilitate breaking of the severanceline 122 during the process of grasping the trough 120 by the hand-holepunch-through means or elliptical panel 126. The stopper wall 180 iscreated in the same manner as in the first embodiment and extendentirely across the dispenser opening 150 along the cylindrical axis X-X(see FIG. 5) of the endmost can “C” of the lower tier.

[0046] Modifications may be made in the foregoing without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the claimed invention. For example, thedispenser may be formed at each end of the carton according to theinvention. It should be also appreciated that as used herein,directional references such as “top”, “bottom”, “end”, “side”, “upper”and “lower” do not limit the respective panels to such orientation, butmerely serve to distinguish these panels from one another.

[0047] It should be further appreciated that any reference to hinged orfoldable connection should not be construed as necessarily referring toa single fold line only: indeed, it is envisaged that hinged connectioncan be formed from one or more of one of the following, a score line, afrangible line or a fold line, without departing from the scope ofinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A carton comprising a plurality of walls definingan upper corner of the carton and an article dispenser for dispensingarticles from the carton, said dispenser including a displaceableportion of the carton formed from said upper corner and detachablyconnected to said walls to be substantially detached from the carton todefine an opening for exposing an endmost article for removal,characterized in that said dispenser comprises a constraining tab forinhibiting said endmost article from undesirably exiting the carton,said constraining tab extending upwardly to an elevation higher than alowest point along a periphery of said opening.
 2. The carton accordingto claim 1 wherein said displaceable portion of the carton is hingedlyattached to the carton so as to provide a trough for receiving anarticle that exits the carton.
 3. The carton according to claim 1further comprising hand-hole punch-through means for grasping saiddisplaceable portion, said punch-through means being defined by weakenedlines formed in one of said walls.
 4. The carton according to claim 3wherein said weakened lines include a severance line and a fold linewhich together form a grasping panel foldably connected to saiddisplaceable portion along said fold line.
 5. The carton according toclaim 1 wherein said walls includes a top wall, a pair of opposed sidewalls connected to side edges of said top wall and an end wallinterconnecting said side walls, and said constraining tab is formedfrom said end wall.
 6. The carton according to claim 5 wherein saidconstraining tab is defined by an inverted U-shaped weakened formed inthe end wall.
 7. The carton according to claim 6 wherein said lowestpoint is located adjacent to one or each of opposite ends of saidinverted U-shaped weakened line.
 8. The carton according to claim 5wherein said end wall comprises a pair of overlapped side end flapsconnected respectively to said side walls, and said constraining tab isformed from said side end flaps.
 9. The carton according to claim 5further comprising a bottom wall connecting between lower edges of saidside walls, wherein said end wall comprises a bottom end flap connectedto an end edge of said bottom wall and a pair of side end flapsconnected respectively to end edges of said side walls, wherein saidlowest point is located along a weakened line formed in said side endflaps, and wherein said constraining tab is formed from part of saidbottom end flap extending upwardly beyond said weakened line.
 10. Apackage comprising an article group formed of at least one tier ofcylindrical articles disposed on sides thereof in a side-by-sideparallel fashion, and a carton disposed around said group, said cartoncomprising a top wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to saidtop wall, an end wall interconnecting said side walls, and an articledispenser for dispensing said articles, said side walls being disposedalongside ends of said articles of said group, said end wall beingdisposed adjacent to a side wall of an endmost article of said group,said dispenser including a displaceable portion of said carton formedfrom and detachably connected to said top, side and end walls to besubstantially detached from said carton to define an opening forexposing said endmost article for removal, said displaceable portionbeing connected to said side walls along tear lines that are disposedrespectively across opposite ends of said endmost article so that saidopposite ends are partially exposed to facilitate access thereto by auser when said displaceable portion is substantially detached.
 11. Thepackage according to claim 10 wherein said tear lines are disposed inthe side walls and extend between said top wall and said end wall, saidlines being curved concavely toward said end wall to expose greaterareas of said opposite ends when said displaceable portion is detached.12. The package according to claim 10 wherein said tear lines aredisposed in said side walls and extend downwardly from said top wall tosaid end wall, a lowest point along each of said tear lines being spacedat a distance above a lower edge of a respective one of said side walls,said distance being no more than a half of a diameter of said endmostarticle.
 13. The package according to claim 12 wherein said dispensercomprises a constraining tab for inhibiting said endmost article fromundesirably exiting the carton, said constraining tab being formed fromsaid end wall and extending upwardly to an elevation higher than saidlowest point.
 14. The package according to claim 10 wherein said articlegroup comprises two or more vertically arranged tiers of cylindricalarticles, said articles in each tier being disposed on sides thereof ina side-by-side parallel fashion, said tear lines being disposed acrossopposite ends of an endmost article of a lowermost tier.
 15. A packagecomprising an article group formed of at least one tier of cylindricalarticles disposed on sides thereof in a side-by-side parallel fashion,and a carton disposed around said group, said carton comprising a topwall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to said top wall, an endwall interconnecting said side walls, and an article dispenser fordispensing said articles, said side walls being disposed alongside endsof said articles of said group, said end wall being disposed adjacent toa side wall of an endmost article of said group, said dispenserincluding a displaceable portion of said carton formed from anddetachably connected to said top, side and end walls to be substantiallydetached from said carton to define an opening for exposing said endmostarticle for removal, said displaceable portion being connected to saidend wall along a weakened line extending between said side walls so thatsaid weakened line defines an upper edge of a stopper wall formed fromsaid end wall when said displaceable portion is substantially detached,said upper edge extending substantially along a cylindrical axis of saidendmost article so that said stopper wall inhibit said endmost articlefrom undesirably exiting said carton.
 16. The package according to claim15 wherein said carton further comprises a bottom wall connectingbetween lower edges of said side walls, said upper edge of said stopperwall being spaced at a distance above said bottom wall, said distancebeing less than a diameter of said endmost article.
 17. The packageaccording to claim 15 wherein said dispenser comprises a constrainingtab for inhibiting said endmost article from undesirably exiting thecarton, said constraining tab extending upwardly from said stopper wall.18. The package according to claim 17 wherein said weakened line has aninverted “U” configuration so that said weakened line defines saidconstraining tab formed from said end wall.
 19. The package according toclaim 18 wherein said carton further comprises a bottom wall connectingbetween lower edges of said side walls, said constraining tab having ahighest point along said upper edge, said highest point being spacedabove said bottom wall at a distance greater than a half of a diameterof said endmost article and less than said diameter.
 20. The packageaccording claim 18 wherein said carton further comprises a bottom wallconnecting between lower edges of said side walls, said upper edge has alowest point at one or each of opposite ends of said weakened line, saidlowest point being spaced above said bottom wall at a distance nogreater than a half of a diameter of said endmost article.
 21. A cartoncomprising a plurality of walls defining an upper corner of the cartonand an article dispenser for dispensing articles from the carton, saiddispenser including a displaceable portion of the carton formed fromsaid upper corner and detachably connected to said walls to be at leastpartially detached from the carton to define an opening for exposing anendmost article for removal, characterized in that said displaceableportion is hingedly connected to one of said walls for downward pivotalmovement to an opened position so as to provide when in said openedposition a trough for receiving an article that exits the carton. 22.The carton according to claim 21 wherein said walls includes a top wall,a pair of opposed side walls connected to side edges of said top walland an end wall interconnecting said side walls, said displaceableportion being formed from said top, side and end walls and hinged tosaid end wall along a fold line disposed parallel to said top wall. 23.The carton according to claim 22 further comprising a bottom wallconnecting between lower edges of said side walls, and said fold line ispositioned closer to said bottom wall than to said top wall so that atleast a part of said displaceable portion may lie in a plane of saidbottom wall when said displaceable portion is in said opened position.24. The carton according to claim 23 wherein said end wall is connectedat an upper edge thereof to said top wall, and said part of saiddisplaceable portion comprises said upper edge of said end wall.
 25. Thecarton according to claim 23 wherein said fold line extends entirelyacross said end wall.
 26. The carton according to claim 23 wherein saidfold line is a weakened fold line curved or bent to take an essentiallyinverted-U shape, and said weakened fold line remains partially unbrokento serve as a line ofjoinder when said displaceable portion is in saidopened position.